While horses are the heart of any stable, there’s a hidden menace that can undermine their health, safety, and even the structural integrity of the facilities: rats. These unwelcome intruders pose serious risks to equine operations by spreading disease, destroying property, and contaminating food and bedding. Understanding the threat and implementing robust prevention and control strategies is essential for protecting both animals and infrastructure.

Common in certain horse populations, enteroliths are mineral-based stones that gradually form in the large colon over several years. Composed primarily of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate), these stones develop around a central foreign object—such as a pebble, hair, baling twine, metal, or rubber—and often take on round, triangular, or flat shapes. Although they may remain undetected for long periods, enteroliths can shift and obstruct the intestinal tract, leading to episodes of colic in horses.

Climate change is increasingly affecting horses, horse properties, and their owners across Canada. In recent surveys, nearly 90 percent of Canadians reported noticing the impacts of climate change in their communities. Horses are facing rising health risks, including respiratory diseases from wildfire smoke and dust, skin conditions and hoof damage caused by unpredictable weather, and new parasites and diseases. Horse owners are also dealing with higher hay costs, unexpected veterinary expenses, and challenges related to weather disruptions, such as riding limitations. Meanwhile, owners of horse properties are working to repair damage from severe storms, flooding, droughts, and high winds.

A horse’s skin covers an extensive surface area, making dermatological issues highly visible. However, while these problems are easy to spot, determining their root cause can be challenging. To provide expert insight into equine skin health, we collaborated with Dr. Stephen White, DACVD, a professor and chief of the Dermatology Service at UC Davis Veterinary Hospital.